the founder of the eponymous exhaust system maker.Photo: Boštjan Podlogar/STA 2 December - Slovenia has a plethora of companies that are world leaders in niche industries Perhaps the best known among them is Akrapovič a maker of exhaust systems that has grown in three decades from an motorcycle racer's obsession into a huge business with a worldwide presence that dictates global trends in exhaust systems recently received the national award for lifetime achievement in innovation named after Slovenian automotive pioneer Janez Puh he has achieved breakthroughs in exhaust systems for motorbikes and cars "with innovation Akrapovič says he started the company not as a hobby but as an "obsession with perfection." As a racer he started to build his own exhausts Over the years we have developed products that set benchmarks on the market." While he regularly features among Slovenia's most important executives and often speaks up publicly about economic policy Akrapovič says that success is the result of hard work put in by the whole team "This award was a bit of a surprise for us; especially because it actually came from a completely different sphere which recognised the small part we have contributed to the development of technology in Slovenia We are exceptionally proud of that," he said when a rider with their exhaust system won the world championship for the first time "That was a really big leap," he said The number of World Championship titles to date has risen to 190 One of the reasons for this is the way the company operates: it still pays as much attention to feedback from race teams and other partners as it used to all the latest technical developments start on racing bikes." He is particularly proud of the fact that companies entrust them with their motorcycles "That's why we may be the only ones in the world who know what they can do It's a very good feeling," he says when Akrapovič entered into partnerships with storied Italian supercar makers Ferrari and Lamborghini While they have been working with Lamborghini for several years - buyers some of their models can opt for Akrapovič's titanium exhaust system - they have started working together in racing this season equipping Lamborghini's Squadra Corse sports division with their systems in endurance racing Ivančna GoricaA collection of motorcycles equipped with Akrapovič exhaust systems.Photo: Boštjan Podlogar/STA Akrapovič employs more than 1,500 people and is one of the biggest employers in south Slovenia where it also has a development department while production takes place in nearby Črnomelj Because they need staff with specific skills including at their welding training centre in Črnomelj The core company generated just shy of EUR 200 million in sales revenue last year Due to the current turmoil on the European automotive market the company expects this year's figures to be slightly worse as consumers remain reserved But it says that long-term prospects are nevertheless stable as there is still plenty of scope for growth Ivančna GoricaExhaust system maker Akrapovič.Photo: Boštjan Podlogar/STA Sceptics might be tempted to think that the company's prospects are bleak given the strong push towards electric mobility but Akrapovič is cool both about the prospects for electification and its impact on the company's business He says it is based on "unrealistic expectations" he expects no more than a quarter of the cars to be electric with the rest powered by synthetic or other alternative fuels As long as internal combustion engines remain dominant then the company appears to have a bright future Territorial Defence (TD) members set up a blockade at Malo Hudo near Ivančna Gorica to prepare for the arrival of the Yugoslav People's Army (YPA) armoured units from the direction of Novo mesto Among the TD members at that time was also a priest who was approached by his fellow soldiers and asked to perform mass which was held in a safe location in the forest on 4 July The TD members made a makeshift place of worship and a cross (now displayed in the Military Museum in Maribor Cadet School) and participated by reading scriptures and ministering This event was the first mass for Slovenian troops following the end of the Second World War The spiritual care during the war for Slovenia and the first mass are considered to be the beginning of the spiritual care of the members of the Slovenian Armed Forces and the priest Jože Plut also gave a speech at the ceremony the Prime Minister emphasised that 30 years ago a piece of Slovenian history was written not far from the place where today's event is being held and the first Holy Mass immediately after gaining an independent and sovereign state and being forced to defend it has a multifaceted meaning," said the Prime Minister adding that the speakers before him had already explained some of the layers of that event while he spoke about things that we might have forgotten a little over the past 30 years We have inflicted the greatest evil on ourselves and we are still healing from these wounds," the Prime Minister said adding that "the first Holy Mass was in the darkest of times when it was a matter of life and death when in Slovenian parishes we were already burying the first victims Jernej Molan and many others who died in uniform or were killed as civilians because the YPA also attacked civilian targets destroying Gornja Radgona and firing rockets at the convoys of civilian vehicles on the road; in short those who requested the Holy Mass knew in the depths of their hearts and souls that everything was at stake that it was not only a question of whether the state that has been proclaimed would survive but also of whether we would survive as a people that is as those without whom there is no state." According to the Prime Minister "But the prayer did not only take place here where people prayed to a background of air raid sirens and this prayer was an expression of something that we have never tried to assess or put into words At that time Slovenians took steps to wish well for ourselves while not wishing ill on anyone else," the Prime Minister said adding that what we did was an expression of good "If we compare what happened in Slovenia with what happened later in the territory of the country we were leaving with the YPA down to practically a third of its operational capacity We had more than 5,000 prisoners and defectors This word spread throughout the former joint state and remember the scenes when the mothers of these soldiers rushed to the Assembly in Belgrade and demanded their sons come back," the Prime Minister recalled and we would be talking about thousands of victims on both sides and it would be hard to say that our decisive action at that time was something where we wished well for ourselves no ill on others and good for all," the Prime Minister added Slovenia acted this way in the last 30 years meaning that we sought to do good for themselves and also for others even when the formal responsibility of caring for other nations with whom we share our lives within the EU "I believe such action is part of Slovenians' nature and when Mitja Okorn brought to the screen this view of ourselves and others in his video featuring Prešeren's A Toast (Zdravljica) it is a language that everyone understands This is more telling than thousands of words or dozens of books," stressed Janez Janša "They say that God remembered us specifically on two occasions and we had to secure this support through our own actions and by the fact that those who came here saw with their own eyes what was the truth and what was propaganda and what was happening all over Slovenia at that time our identity," explained the Prime Minister He added that God also looked kindly on Slovenia when he was handing out natural beauties "When Slovenia was declared independent 30 years ago the programme from its very beginning included the symbolic blessing of a Slovenian linden tree When Archbishop Alojzij Šuštar said his blessing using carefully chosen words someone intentionally turned off his microphone which is why Slovenia did not hear this blessing and it was thus needed to be repeated in prayers in churches by units defending Slovenia and by every person on their own After 30 years we have somewhat corrected this error and my sincere thanks go to Archbishop Stanislav Zore who blessed Slovenia after 30 years in a way that everyone could hear him that we are aware that this blessing is intended for all of us that it is a blessing of something that we understand by the phrase 'good intentions'," said the Slovenian Prime Minister "As I walk around Slovenia and attend ceremonies like today's it seems to me that there has never been anything like this in Slovenia in the past 30 years that we have been aware of the Slovenia that was being formed at that time including the fact that we finally heard the blessing all these were signs that we are at the beginning of a rebirth that on the 30th anniversary we have begun to realise that 30 years ago we took a step that has brought us to a state where we are masters of our own land where we have issued our own judgement and that it is up to us to define how we will live in the future," stated Janez Janša being more than ever aware of the shared values and the values of Slovenian independence of what it means to want good for yourself and for others let's do everything we can to ensure that this awareness reaches as many as people possible because on that basis it will be easier We have to realise that we Slovenians have won our freedom and democracy on our own we can look everyone proudly in the eye and we can talk to everyone proudly and confidently," the Prime Minister emphasised concluding his speech with the words: "God bless Slovenia!" After the Mass and at the end of the commemoration Prime Minister Janša and the Mayor of the Municipality of Ivančna Gorica unveiled the memorial commemorating the first mass for Slovenian soldiers which was blessed by the Ljubljana Archbishop and Metropolitan of Ljubljana The exhibition "The War for Slovenia 1991 – Truth Lies in Victory!" (Vojna za Slovenijo 1991 – Resnica je v zmagi!) by Boštjan Jakopec was also on display at the venue Did you find the information you were looking for Do you want to receive a response from the responsible institution Clicking on the link will open your default e-mail program and automatically draft a message that you can send to the institution responsible for the content of this website ask for a reply away from the hustle and bustle of the city only complete entertainment and a unique musical experience await you About the "open air" electronic music festival Woodland 2017 it will take place in Ivančna Gorica on July 1 Open air electronic music festival Woodland 2017 is preparing the ultimate musical experience In a unique location in the heart of nature you will be spoiled by sounding names such as UMEK It will also not be missing at the festival crazy stage shows hot dance numbers and attractive visual animations READ MORE: ROCKIN' RIVIERA WEEKENDER 2017: ŽUSTERNA WILL HOST INTERNATIONAL STARS It is also available camping with a daily program – DJ and transportation to the festival will be provided from the whole of Slovenia Gallery - some highlights from Woodland Festival 2016 From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers about the latest in lifestyle From year 2023 we offer content in major global languages From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers daily about the latest in lifestyle style and products that inspire with passion we offer content in major global languages In Žužemberk the Minister took note of the developments regarding the implementation of the project “Drinking water supply in Suha Krajina” which has thus far received EUR 21.5 million of Cohesion Fund support the meeting was also attended by the mayor of municipality Mirna Peč Antun Gašparac representing municipality Kočevje They agreed that the project is of the outmost importance for the inhabitants of Suha Krajina as it will result in over 1,200 inhabitants having better and safer drinking water supply.    In Ivančna Gorica Minister met with mayor Dušan Strnad who said that he was pleased that the project “Construction of cycling routes in municipality Ivančna Gorica for sustainable mobility” will receive European Regional Development Fund support The municipality plans to submit its project proposal to the Ministry of Infrastructure in June.   Minister Černač also visited Grosuplje where the mayor dr Peter Verlic and his colleagues presented the municipality’s development projects In the close vicinity of the bus and railway station they checked the progress made with regard to the implementation of the project P+R Grosuplje garage which is a successful project proposal submitted under the call for proposals “Sustainable mobility measures – P+R hubs” receiving EU funding The garage will offer 222 parking spaces of which 161 are reserved for P+R and thus contribute to relieving Ljubljana from daily commuters to the capital.   The Minister and the mayors also discussed the implementation of European Cohesion Policy in the new programming period 2021-2027 Minister Černač underlined that in the new programming period Slovenia is eligible to less funding than in the period 2014-2020 which calls for focusing on realistic and feasible projects “Slovenia’s development cycle should be planned by taking into account all the available funding and not relying only on the European Cohesion Policy funds” added Minister Černač.    The Minister also said that numerous EU-supported projects are being implemented throughout Slovenia “I believe that also the next financial perspective will bring projects that generate added value” he concluded.         To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ask for a reply